((Warning: Feels))

America and Japan returned to Russia's front lawn after unsuccessfully searching for clues on the rest of the property. They found Lithuania in quite a panic pacing outside Russia's front door.

"Dude?" America asked, concerned

"America! Japan too! Oh it's great that you're here! China seems to have vanished!" Lithuania explained what had happened with the window, and China running off suddenly.

"We shourd carr France-san."

"And then take a look inside the commie's place!"

While Japan made the call to France, America and Lithuania were setting up the makeshift ladder again. Lithuania held the ladder firmly while America climbed up towards Russia's window without a worry.

"Be careful, America!"

"I'll be fine, dude! Look, I'm already up here!" The ladder shook and Lithuania steadied it as best he could as America flung Russia's window open suddenly. "So what am I looking for up here anyway?"

"Um, I don't know, anything that might tell us where they are… A note, or a map maybe?"

"What about this?" America said while tossing a small object at Lithuania, causing him to drop the ladder and stumble a bit trying to catch it. It was an old key, or at least an old-style key. The metal was brand new and it was dated just a few months ago. It was attached to a purple cupcake keychain which also held a blue fluffy thing- most likely just for decoration. Lithuania also noticed something oddly familiar about the key itself.

"This is the same key that Russia had when I sneaked into his house! Or at least it looks the same… The one he had was definitely much older."

While Lithuania was still staring intently at the key and keychain, America dropped down haphazardly from the window and landed surprisingly gracefully- if not rather loudly- next to Lithuania, causing him to jump in surprise.

"What do ya think it's to?" America asked

"China said something about Russia's other houses. We could try there."

"Great! Let's grab Japan and go!"

"Well, I don't exactly know where they are… I've never been to Russia's old houses. He still lived in them while I was working here- at his place- but I've never been to them. I think we'll have to ask his sisters…"

"Okay, I'll take Ukraine, you ask Belarus."

"O-okay," Lithuania said, hiding both his fear and excitement. "Take Japan with you."

"Right!"

((Elsewhere))

"Ghafff!" the Prussian exclaimed as Oliver thrust the knife into his side again.

"Are you going to admit it yet?" Russia said dully.

"There's nothing to admit!" Prussia spat. Russia was losing his patience. He signaled Oliver and the blade was once again buried into Prussia's flesh. The wound began to close immediately as the healing ability of the country kicked in.

"Admit that you are not a country, Gilbert." the Russian said, trying to irritate him.

"I am zhe awesome Prussia!" he shouted as confidently as he could. He was stabbed again.

"Prussia isn't a country. If you were going to argue, you should have at least called yourself East Germany, da?" Russia said reclaiming some of his patience as he lightly stroked some of the evil-looking ((kinky)) tools on his wall. Prussia didn't answer. After his chat with his fellow cellmate, he now knew exactly what was going on, and exactly what would happen to him if Russia got what he wanted.

"I know you have doubts. I know that when Prussia fell- the physical Prussia- you became human. I know that your little brother allowed you to become Germany with him- but did you really think that would work?" Russia took a few steps closer to Prussia and tried his best to look sincerely pitying. "The truth is- Gilbert- is that the only way you are a country, is through the words of your young brother."

"I'm still just Prussia…"

"What is Prussia?!" Russia shouted suddenly, "Where is it on a map? Can you prove that Prussia exists outside of your delusional mind?"

Prussia shuddered. He was starting to get scared- really scared. Ever since he woke up from that spell- no, even before that- he'd been seeing awful things, horrible things that shouldn't exist. If he thought about it too much, Prussia even started to sound like a made-up word…

"Gilbert…" Russia said as softly as he could manage, "you shouldn't make things up so that you'll be cool- I mean awesome. People will only think little of and eventually forget about you if you keep it up."

Prussia was getting tired, his wounds hurt more than they should and he was getting tired- more tired than he usually would. His face felt wet and he couldn't even understand why anymore. He muttered something quietly as the tears began to fall more freely from his face.

"What was that, Gilbert?"

"I-I'm sorry…" Gilbert muttered, a tear dripping onto a slash in his all too human skin. He couldn't understand why he was so upset, but tears were rolling down his face rapidly, the way they would on the face of a person who had just lost something important to them. He felt sad, and cold, and alone. And at the same time, it felt as if some great burden had been lifted from his shoulders- as if something long and tragic had simply been erased from his mind.

Russia smiled creepily, yet moved closer to comfort the sobbing 'Gilbert'.

"There, there. Just forget about it all, Gilbert. You'll be fine now, da?" Russia examined 'Gilbert's arm. The wound wasn't closing. He had willingly given up his country status without even realizing it. Russia looked over at Oliver.

"Do you think you could whip up a spell for the rest of them?"

Oliver frowned and then nodded. Russia couldn't stop smiling. It was the first genuine smile the Russian had ever had.

Meanwhile, in the other corner of the basement, a certain other Russian was frowning profusely. Russia's victory here would mean certain doom for him. He could be upset or think about all the things he would never see again- he could list them and fantasize about them, but he already had. He had had that list ready a long time ago.